There is much we can learn from the stories of our past, if we tell them in a way that allows us to hear what they really have to say. This applies to me and my life. To put it simply, the life I have lived up to this point has been nothing short of a beautiful (and bumpy) roller coaster ride! Growing up there were many factors that influenced me to take on or do certain things. These things, plus some of my individual choices, contributed to what made me who I am today. And with that, I'm happy to say that for this moment, I'm satisfied with the person I am and the path I'm on. Growing up as a child, my life changed constantly. Even though I don't have many memories of my childhood, I do remember wanting to be a little bit of everything. At first I wanted to become a singer. I dreamed of being beautiful and famous like Britney Spears. Not to mention I was a bit of a narcissist and thought I had the best voice. I actually sounded like nails on a chalkboard. After some time had passed and I was no longer tone deaf, I dreamed of being a teacher. It was probably because I had started school and loved learning. I also had an obsession with stationery and thought grading would be the coolest thing ever! For a long time, I truly thought with every fiber of my being that one day I would grow up to major in Early Education. I wanted nothing more than to teach first grade. Unexpectedly this dream ended in 2007 when something inside me changed; when someone I loved dearly ended up in the hands of nurses and doctors. This special person was my grandmother after she fell and broke her hip. Although she would recover and return to her life for a short time, this experience raised so... middle of paper... and future nurse. I've learned that if I don't use all the resources made available to me, I'm simply letting the good things fall by the wayside. Tutors, libraries and success centers were created to help students like me achieve their best. Lastly, and most importantly for me, is to remember why I'm doing this. To succeed in the career field I desire, I must accept that college will not always be fun. I've always found that the road gets bumpy from time to time. Even with that said, remembering why I put myself through this seemingly difficult journey of life is worth it. In the end, this is the most important thing. If you can't look back as a student and appreciate what got you to where you are, then it wasn't worth it. It is with this idea that I will continue my studies and succeed as a nurse!